Discovery of novel sesquistilbene indanone analogues as potent anti-inflammatory agents

•Compound 11k was more effective than resveratrol.•(±)-11k, (+)-11k and (−)-11k, do not have impacts on activity and toxicity.•(±)-11k could suppress iNOS, COX-2 expression and NO production.•The mechanism of (±)-11k was through TLR4/JNK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

To develop novel anti-inflammatory agents with improved pharmaceutical profiles, twenty-eight novel sesquistilbene indanone analogues were synthesized and evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using RAW264.7 cells. Among these compounds, compound 11k was found to be one of the most potent analogues in inhibiting NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, it could also significantly suppress LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression and NO production through TLR4/JNK/NF-κB signaling pathway in a concentration dependent manner.

Graphical abstractSesquistilbene indanone analogue 11k was much more potent than resveratrol for its anti-inflammatory activity. It could also significantly suppress LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression and NO production through TLR4/JNK/NF-κB signaling pathway in a concentration dependent manner.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide